How to Get an Anti-Lock Brakes Auto Insurance Discount (2024)
You could save money on your auto insurance if your vehicle has an anti-lock braking system factory-installed. Having one can help you qualify for an anti-lock brakes auto insurance discount.
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Zach Fagiano
Licensed Insurance Broker
Zach Fagiano has been in the insurance industry for over 10 years, specializing in property and casualty and risk management consulting. He started out specializing in small businesses and moved up to large commercial real estate risks. During that time, he acquired property & casualty, life & health, and surplus lines brokers licenses. He’s now the Senior Vice President overseeing globa...
Licensed Insurance Broker
UPDATED: Oct 18, 2023
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Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident auto insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one auto insurance provider and cannot guarantee quotes from any single provider. Our partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different companies please enter your ZIP code on this page to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.
UPDATED: Oct 18, 2023
It’s all about you. We want to help you make the right coverage choices.
Advertiser Disclosure: We strive to help you make confident auto insurance decisions. Comparison shopping should be easy. We are not affiliated with any one auto insurance provider and cannot guarantee quotes from any single provider. Our partnerships don’t influence our content. Our opinions are our own. To compare quotes from many different companies please enter your ZIP code on this page to use the free quote tool. The more quotes you compare, the more chances to save.
On This Page
- Anti-lock brakes began as an upsold feature but now typically come standard in most vehicles
- The anti-lock brake discount will apply automatically when you enter your VIN
- It’s worth exploring every auto insurance discount you qualify for to save the most money on car insurance
When you imagine braking, you picture doing so all at once. In a single swift action, you shove your foot downward, and the vehicle comes to a stop.
In reality, brakes don’t work that way. Our instincts tell us to slam down, but the tires would regularly skid, increasing the time and distance needed to stop, as well as the risk of losing control of our vehicle. The ideal way to brake is by first applying force, then relieving it, then applying again.
Anti-lock brakes (ABS) make it possible for drivers to use this faulty idea of stopping while correcting the method. Anti-lock braking systems (ABS) allow us to brake faster, stop sooner, and maintain control as we brake. In short, we owe much of our safety on the roads to this technology.
ABS systems also lower monthly rates by earning drivers auto insurance discounts for safety features. Getting an anti-lock brakes discount is easy — most companies automatically apply savings based on your VIN when you shop for quotes.
Keep reading to learn which companies offer ABS discounts and other savings you can earn for being a safe driver and installing additional safety features in your vehicle.
Advantages of Anti-Lock Brakes
In 1920, a mechanically astute Frenchman named Gabriel Voisin set about eliminating the risk of tire slippage in airplanes. He discovered that if he applied varying levels of pressure through the means of hydraulics, the slipping issue was all but eliminated.
Over the next half century, the technologies and methods involved improved, and products shrank down to fit passenger vehicles. What we now think of as anti-lock brakes came about in 1971 at a Fiat facility in Italy, and you will be hard-pressed to find a vehicle today that does not automatically come with ABS systems installed.
Much like power steering, the development of anti-lock brakes revolutionized how we drive. It’s an upgrade that we take for granted whether we’re traveling off-road or on an especially wet road. No matter who you are, there’s a good chance an ABS system has saved your life, plus a little on your insurance.
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How to Get an Anti-Lock Brake Discount on Auto Insurance
A few decades ago, insurance companies would ask, “Does your vehicle have anti-lock brakes?” when you called to request insurance quotes.
If you answered yes, you were rewarded with a discount because it made you less likely to rear-end another driver. Today, companies automatically apply anti-lock brake discounts when you search for quotes online.
Built-in safety features now populate automatically when you enter the VIN into our quote tool. This ensures that you receive the maximum savings up-front.
When you enter your VIN for auto insurance quotes, companies learn a lot about your vehicle, including any installed safety and anti-theft devices, such as anti-lock brakes, GPS trackers, and backup cameras.
This table shows other types of car insurance discounts you can earn based on your vehicle:
Common Auto Insurance Discounts
Vehicle Discounts Customer Discounts Personal Discounts
Active Disabling Device Claim Free Emergency Deployment
Adaptive Cruise Control Continuous Coverage Family Legacy
Adaptive Headlights Defensive Driver Family Plan
Anti-Lock Brakes Driver's Education Federal Employee
Audible Alarm Driving Device/App Further Education
Automatic Braking Early Signing Good Student
Blind Spot Warning Full Payment Homeowner
Daytime Running Lights Good Credit Life Insurance
Economy Vehicle Loyalty Married
Electronic Stability Control Multiple Policies Membership/Group
Farm/Ranch Vehicle Multiple Vehicles Military
Forward Collision Warning New Customer/New Plan New Address
Garaging/Storing Occasional Operator New Graduate
Green/Hyrbid Vehicle Online Shopper Non-Smoker/Non-Drinker
Lane Departure Warning On-Time Payments Occupation
Newer Vehicle Paperless/Auto Billing Recent Retirees
Passive Restraint Paperless Documents Stable Residence
Utility Vehicle Roadside Assistance Student Away
Vehicle Recovery Safe Driver Student or Alumni
VIN Etching Seat Belt Use Volunteer
As you can see, you can stack ABS safety discounts with anti-theft devices like audible alarms and disabling devices. Read how to get an anti-theft auto insurance discount.
Where to Get an Anti-Lock Brakes Discount
Every major insurance company offers an anti-lock brakes discount on car insurance, including State Farm and Geico, the two most popular insurers in the country.
This table shows which companies offer ABS discounts and other discounts you can earn:
Best Auto Insurance Discounts by Insurance Provider
Discount Name Allstate American Family Farmers Geico Liberty Mutual Nationwide Progressive State Farm Travelers USAA
Adaptive Cruise Control ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 5% ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Adaptive Headlights ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 5% ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Anti-lock Brakes 10% ✓ ✓ 5% 5% 5% ✓ 5%
Anti-Theft 10% ✓ 23% 20% 25% ✓ 15%
Claim Free 35% ✓ ✓ 26% ✓ 10% ✓ 15% 23% 12%
Continuous Coverage ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 15% ✓
Daytime Running Lights 2% ✓ 3% 5% 5% ✓ ✓
Defensive Driver 10% 10% ✓ ✓ 10% 5% 10% 5% 10% 3%
Distant Student 35% ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 10% ✓ 7%
Driver's Ed 10% ✓ ✓ ✓ 10% ✓ 10% 15% 8% 3%
Driving Device/App 20% 40% ✓ ✓ 30% 40% 20% 50% 30% 5%
Early Signing 10% ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 8% ✓ ✓ 10% 12%
Electronic Stability Control 2% ✓ ✓ ✓ 5% ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Emergency Deployment ✓ ✓ ✓ 25% ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Engaged Couple ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Family Legacy ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 10%
Family Plan ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 25% ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Farm Vehicle 10% ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Fast 5 ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Federal Employee ✓ ✓ 12% 10% ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Forward Collision Warning ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 5% ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Full Payment 10% ✓ ✓ $50 ✓ ✓ ✓ 8% ✓
Further Education ✓ ✓ 10% 15% ✓ ✓
Garaging/Storing ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 90%
Good Credit ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Good Student 20% ✓ 15% 23% 10% ✓ 25% 8% 3%
Green Vehicle 10% ✓ 5% ✓ 10% ✓ ✓ ✓ 10% ✓
Homeowner ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 5% ✓ 3% 5% ✓
Lane Departure Warning ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Life Insurance ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Low Mileage ✓ ✓ ✓ 30%
Loyalty ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 5% ✓ ✓ ✓
Married ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Membership/Group ✓ ✓ ✓ 10% 7% ✓ ✓
Military ✓ ✓ 15% 4% ✓ ✓
Military Garaging ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 15%
Multiple Drivers ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Multiple Policies 10% 29% ✓ 10% 20% 10% 12% 17% 13%
Multiple Vehicles ✓ ✓ 25% 10% 20% 10% 20% 8%
New Address ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 5% ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
New Customer/New Plan ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
New Graduate ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 5% ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
New Vehicle 30% ✓ ✓ 15% ✓ 40% 10% 12%
Newly Licensed ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 5% ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Newlyweds ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 5% ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Non-Smoker/Non-Drinker ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Occasional Operator ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Occupation ✓ 10% 15% ✓ ✓ ✓
On-Time Payments 5% ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 15% ✓
Online Shopper ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 7% ✓ ✓ ✓
Paperless Documents 10% ✓ ✓ ✓ 5% $50 ✓ ✓ ✓
Paperless/Auto Billing 5% ✓ ✓ ✓ $30 ✓ $20 3% 3%
Passive Restraint 30% 30% 40% 20% ✓ 40%
Recent Retirees ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 4% ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Renter ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Roadside Assistance ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Safe Driver 45% ✓ 15% ✓ 35% 31% 15% 23% 12%
Seat Belt Use ✓ ✓ ✓ 15% ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Senior Driver 10% ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Stable Residence ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Students & Alumni ✓ ✓ ✓ 10% 7% ✓ ✓ ✓
Switching Provider ✓ ✓ 10% ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Utility Vehicle 15% ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Vehicle Recovery 10% ✓ ✓ 15% 35% 25% ✓ 5%
VIN Etching ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ 5% ✓ ✓
Volunteer ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓
Young Driver ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ ✓ $75
Local companies may also offer similar discounts where you live, so it’s important to compare insurance quotes by ZIP code. Instantly compare auto insurance online to get the best rates.
Other Ways to Save on Auto Insurance Premiums
If you’re reading this article, it isn’t just for anti-lock brakes discounts — it’s because you’re an enterprising policyholder looking for the most reasonable auto insurance rates available.
The car you drive, including the safety features therein, will always factor into your insurance premiums. However, what you drive is less important than who you are as a driver. Your age, credit history, insurance history, driving record, location, and other factors affect your auto insurance rates.
You always have the ability to lower your car insurance rates by sticking around with an insurer and gaining customer loyalty auto insurance discount, improving your credit score for auto insurance, or keeping a clean driving record over a number of years.
Hard Braking vs. Anti-Lock Brake Discounts
If you’re looking to save based on your brakes, why not your braking habits?
Improper braking is among the riskier moves you can make on the road. If you believe you don’t take that risk, why not put it to the test? Sign up for usage-based insurance, get feedback, and adjust accordingly for an even bigger discount.
Usage-based auto insurance (UBI) is a rate-reducing technology that focuses on you and your driving habits. UBI allows your insurer to monitor your driving habits and provides valuable information, which goes into calculating rates while also giving you a chance to get proper feedback that can save both your life and your hard-earned dollars.
Most major insurers now reward those who opt into these programs and demonstrate safe driving habits. Not only can you chip away at your renewal bill with almost any major insurer, but many will give you an initial discount simply for enrolling that is bigger than any ABS discount.
Usage-Based Auto Insurance Savings by Provider
Insurance Company Program Name Device Type Sign-up Discount Earned Savings
AAA AAADrive Mobile App 15% 30%
Allstate Drivewise Mobile App 3% 15%
American Family KnowYourDrive Mobile App or Plug-in 5% 20%
Esurance DriveSense Mobile App 5% 30%
Geico DriveEasy Mobile App 20% 20%
Liberty Mutual/SafeCo RightTrack Mobile App or Plug-in 5% and up 30%
MetLife My Journey Plug-in 10% 30%
Metromile Metromile Mobile App 25% 60%
Mile Auto Mile Auto Neither 20% 40%
Nationwide SmartRide Mobile App or Plug-in 10% 40%
Progressive Snapshot Mobile App or Plug-in average of $25 20%
State Farm Drive Safe & Save Mobile App or Plug-in 5% 30%
The Hartford TrueLane Plug-in 5% 25%
Travelers IntelliDrive Mobile App 10% 20%
USAA SafePilot Mobile App 5% 20%
Discounts differ from company to company, and usage-based insurance savings may not be available in your city. So compare multiple companies in your area to see which offers the best discount savings programs. The best policy is to cast the quote net widely, compare what comes back, and make your coverage decisions accordingly.
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Final Thoughts on Anti-Lock Brake Discounts
Anti-lock brakes come standard in most vehicles on the road today. By having the right brakes, which you almost certainly do, and using them properly, you can save 5% or more on auto insurance.
Stacking anti-lock brake discounts with other safety and anti-theft features can save even more money. If you have safe driving habits and avoid speeding and hard braking, you could double your discounts by monitoring your driving with UBI.
Compare auto insurance quotes and discounts, and see which company is willing to offer the best deal on car insurance. Read reviews, see what’s out there, and buy the policy that makes you feel most comfortable on the road. You deserve quality coverage at an affordable rate, with peace of mind to boot. If you don’t have it, shop around with our free comparison tool below.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is an anti-theft insurance discount?
Like an anti-brake system discount, anti-theft discounts are automatic savings that can be accessed by entering your vehicle’s VIN, whether an alarm, smart key, or more.
Does ABS make insurance cheaper?
Vehicles with ABS are cheaper to insure than those without. However, it is virtually impossible these days to locate a vehicle without anti-lock brakes, whether we’re talking airplanes, motorcycles, or anything in between.
What anti-theft device can lower your insurance premium?
It’s more difficult to get added discounts for aftermarket anti-theft devices. Factory-installed devices are the most reliable for discounts, as they’re registered in the vehicle’s ID number.
Are anti-lock brakes good or bad for insurance?
They’re good for insurance because they’re good for you. Anti-lock brakes make vehicles safer by applying intermittent pressure all on their own.
How can I qualify for an Anti-Lock Brakes auto insurance discount?
To qualify for an Anti-Lock Brakes auto insurance discount, you need to have a vehicle that is equipped with a functioning anti-lock braking system. Typically, the discount is available for vehicles manufactured with ABS systems, but you may also be able to install an aftermarket ABS system and qualify for the discount.
How do I inform my insurance company about my vehicle’s Anti-Lock Brakes?
When obtaining an insurance policy, you will be asked to provide information about your vehicle, including its safety features. Ensure that you mention the presence of anti-lock brakes in your vehicle when providing these details to your insurance company. You may need to provide documentation or proof of the ABS system if requested.
How much of a discount can I expect with Anti-Lock Brakes?
The discount amount for Anti-Lock Brakes varies depending on the insurance company and other factors. On average, the discount can range from 5% to 10% off the collision and comprehensive portions of your auto insurance premium.
Free Auto Insurance Comparison
Enter your ZIP code below to view companies that have cheap auto insurance rates.
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Zach Fagiano
Licensed Insurance Broker
Zach Fagiano has been in the insurance industry for over 10 years, specializing in property and casualty and risk management consulting. He started out specializing in small businesses and moved up to large commercial real estate risks. During that time, he acquired property & casualty, life & health, and surplus lines brokers licenses. He’s now the Senior Vice President overseeing globa...
Licensed Insurance Broker
Editorial Guidelines: We are a free online resource for anyone interested in learning more about auto insurance. Our goal is to be an objective, third-party resource for everything auto insurance related. We update our site regularly, and all content is reviewed by auto insurance experts.